The new Salt Lake City International Airport opened yesterday, Sept. 15, 2020, as the first hub airport built in the United States in the 21st century. Dubbed the “world’s most modern and innovative airport facility,” it will accommodate 26 million passengers. Phase One opened, with plans for Phase Two to debut in 2024.
The New SLC features two linear concourses, connected via tunnel. This replaced the airport’s five existing concourses, with the entire $4 billion project financed by the airport’s self-sustaining fund that uses no taxpayer dollars.
Constructed with the aim of earning LEED Gold Certification, the airport will offer more efficient arrivals and departures for the thriving Salt Lake City area. The light-filled terminal features 45-foot, floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking the Wasatch Mountains. A new Utah Transit Authority TRAX light rail station at the airport makes it faster and easier to get downtown.
Dining and retail options reflect the culture of Salt Lake City. The New SLC will feature existing and new eateries, including Market Street Grill, Café Rio, Squatters, Fillings & Emulsions, Pago and Silver Diner. Twenty-nine stores will open in the first phase.
“Salt Lake is very much the crossroads of the West,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director of airports for Salt Lake City. “From the skin on the building to the art that has been selected to the massive terrazzo floors, there has been extraordinary attention paid to making sure that people knew they were in Salt Lake when they land here.”
Construction began in July 2014. When completed, the new South Terminal, home to Delta Air Lines’ second-largest hub, will have a total of 4 million square feet of new space. The entire airport will have a baggage system stretching six miles in length and each of the 78 gates will have jet bridges to make for faster departures and arrivals. A new parking garage will be the size of three football fields with 3,600 parking stalls.
Do you travel to or through Salt Lake City often? Are you excited to experience the new airport? What do you look for in an airport experience? Tell us about it. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Oct 2, 2026Nobu Hotel Madrid Officially Opens
As Madrid continues to cement its position as one of Europe’s most exciting cultural and luxury destinations, Nobu Hospitality announced the recent opening of Nobu Hotel Madrid.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Moments, Made to Keep
The Excellence Collection offers a curated collection of luxurious resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, promising exceptional experiences for every guest and taste. From upscale suite concepts to a plethora of gourmet dining options, from wellness experiences to curated activities, The Excellence Collection guarantees all this and more.
Daily
Oct 2, 2026Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica, Presents Exclusive Pop-Up Experience
Montego Bay’s Round Hill Hotel & Villas gears up for its new culinary collaboration with Chef Alex Dilling of Hotel Cafe Royal in London. The limited series of immersive dining experiences will run Nov. 25–28, with Chef Dilling bringing his modern French dishes to the Jamaican coast.
Daily
Oct 1, 2026Corinthia Hotels Launches Penthouses & Suites by Corinthia
Corinthia Hotels recently launched Penthouses & Suites by Corinthia, a collection of the brand’s most exceptional residences in cities including London, Rome, New York and Brussels.
Sponsored Content
IHG Business Edge: A Smarter Way for Small- and Mid-Sized Businesses to Travel
IHG Business Edge is a complimentary travel program designed to help small- and mid-sized businesses manage travel more efficiently while saving on hotel stays. Members enjoy access to guaranteed discounts, loyalty benefits, and partner offers across IHG Hotels & Resorts’ global portfolio of 7,000-plus hotels in more than 100 countries.
Daily
Oct 1, 2026Loews Hotels & Co Launches New Wellness Programming: Active Stays by Loews Hotels
Loews Hotel & Co recently launched Active Stays by Loews Hotels, featuring new, on-property fitness offerings created with fitness trainer Makena Rae. This new experience aims to make movement approachable, flexible and personal for all travelers.
eFlyer News
Sep 30, 2026Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to Debut in Greece in 2029
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts makes its entrance into Greece with the official signing of Fairmont Chania Resort, slated to debut in 2029 on the island of Crete. The luxury hotel will offer 104 accommodations, including 40 suites; six dining concepts, including one specialty restaurant; and a one-of-a-kind wellness center with six treatment rooms.
Sponsored Content
Get to Know TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal's program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business. TAP FORBIZ offers solutions suited to each business: travel cost reduction, more flexibility, more benefits and more value. With TAP FORBIZ, businesses can centralize purchases, control the company budget and ensure greater cost predictability with exclusive discounts and benefits tailored to each company's profile. Each trip becomes a strategic decision to travel more and spend less.
eFlyer Deals
Sep 30, 2026Key West Resort Celebrates 100 Years of Island History with New Deal
La Concha Key West, Autograph Collection celebrates its 100th birthday with a limited-time 100th Anniversary promotion, blending vintage island glamour with quintessential Key West experiences.
ShareThis